Award-winning and New York Times best-selling author Rebecca Cantrell drops you into a vast, dark world: 100 miles of living, breathing, tunnels that is the New York City underground. This subterranean labyrinth inhales three million bustling commuters every day. And every day, it breathes them all out again...except for one.

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Publisher's Summary

Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Cantrell drops you into a vast, dark world: 100 miles of living, breathing, tunnels that is the New York City underground. This subterranean labyrinth inhales three million bustling commuters every day. And every day, it breathes them all out again... except for one.

Software millionaire Joe Tesla is set to ring the bell on Wall Street the morning his company goes public. On what should be the brightest day in his life, he is instead struck with severe agoraphobia. The sudden dread of the outside is so debilitating, he can't leave his hotel at Grand Central Terminal, except to go underground. Bad luck for Joe, because in the tunnels lurk corpses and murderers, an underground Victorian mansion and a mysterious bricked-up 1940s presidential train car. Joe and his service dog, Edison, find themselves pursued by villains and police alike, their only salvation now is to unearth the mystery that started it all, a deadly, contagious madness on the brink of escaping The World Beneath.

In the beginning the story was rather confusing and I started over thinking I had missed something but realized that it was actually the story and a switch in time periods. At various sections throughout the story the narration and the dialogue between characters seemed choppy but once the story became clearer I wanted to hear more and look forward to the next book in the series.

What three words best describe Jeffrey Kafer’s voice?

Choppy, nice, suitable

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

The mystery behind the agoraphobia is intriguing and how he copes is interesting. I think mystery fans will enjoy this, but I look forward to a better flow in both story and narration in the next book.

Like other Rebecca Cantrell novels, The World Beneath is a fast paced story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This story centers on Joe Tesla who lives in the tunnels under Grand Central Station in New York City. Tesla is a very likeable character, who with his dog, lives in a real Victorian mansion below the subway. Several people get killed due to a strange virus that has been bricked-up inside a 1940s presidential train car. Both villains and the police pursue Tesla and his only escape is to figure out the mystery that started it all.

Narrator Jeffrey Kafer does a great job, creating different voices for each of the characters. His performance includes the necessary urgency that properly sets the mood for a thriller such as this. If rumors are true that this is the beginning of a new series, I hope Kafer will be the narrator.

This is my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last.

What would you do if you suddenly developed agoraphobia and couldn't leave the subway tunnels? What would you do if you saw something you weren't supposed to and now are in danger? That's what our hero has to live with. How can he survive when he can't even go outside?

Joe Tesla was such an awesome character. He was a successful business man but suddenly developed agoraphobia. He now lives in a house that's under the subway. You read that right!! There is a house under the subway!! How cool would that be, though I couldn't live there. Anyway, he lives there with his therapy dog and is only able to use the tunnels to get around. He is well written and developed and the author handled his debilitating condition perfectly. You could feel his fear and frustration at not being able to leave.

Let's give a special mention to the hero who stole the story. Joes' dog, Edison!! I loved him and he totally stole the show :)

Plot wise, the story was breathtakingly fast paced. The scene is set in the very first pages and from then on you are part of a roller coaster that doesn't stop till the very last page. You are brought on a suspenseful and intriguing story and one that you won't forget.

In all this was a great read. I loved the well thought out characters and the intriguing plot and flew through the book eagerly waiting to see what happens. It had me on the edge of my seat the whole way!! The technology mentioned and used, the virus that's released and the flawed hero make for an unforgettable read.

The audio of this was fantastic. It really brought the story alive and made it play out like a movie in my head. Jeffrey Kafer has an easy voice to listen to and really knows how to make the characters pop. He ramps up the tension when needed and you find yourself biting your nails in anticipation. He gives each character their own voice and they are always easily distinguishable.

*I received this for review from AudioBookBlast. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

I always love a surprise. The embattled and imperfect hero makes it real. And easier to relate to the true difficulty of what he faced. His compassion towards his enemies truly demonstrates his uniqueness.

What made the experience of listening to The World Beneath the most enjoyable?

This outstanding story captivated me from the first words. The world Cantrell has created is visual, heart thumping and compelling to the end. The research involved alone was enough to want me to learn more about the NYC underground. Looking forward to the next Joe Tesla adventure.

What other book might you compare The World Beneath to and why?

The World Beneath is the truest example of a suspense thriller. The first chapter sets up what will follow throughout the entire novel as a platform for what Tesla discovers and how he will be forced to use his wits and skills to potentially save the world. I wouldn't necessarily compare TWB to another book because this reads as a truly original concept. Works by authors Joseph Finder and Christopher Reich come to mind due to the risk and professional standing in an industry elements.

What does Jeffrey Kafer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed Kafer's performance very much. His tone and fluctuation from one character to another was flawless. The spoke word adds an additional visual element to the e-book version.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The irony of Tesla's circumstances presented quite a lot of intriguing instances. Most heartbreaking are the choices he's forced to make throughout his journey to discovery--not only of the mystery at the heart of the story, but how his affliction dictates his actions.

Fun story to pass the time but nothing to great. The Characters aren't very developed, the back stories are not very deep, and the story is relatively predictable. What makes it fun is the scenario of taking places in the subways of Manhattan, the main character's dog, and the cat vs mouse portion. Reader was OK.

I love a computer nerd hero. And a good conspiracy. And a bit of action. And a gruesome death...or two. And getting inside the mind of the bad guy. Or is the other guy the bad guy? Or what about the girl? Who's side is she on anyway?

The World Beneath kept me guessing. I was engaged in the story the whole way through and was really happy with the way it wrapped everything up....until that last sentence that left me on a cliffhanger! Looking forward to the next installment.

I listened to the audiobook, which I received free via Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review. Jeffrey Kafer gives another fantastic performance. He is easy to listen to and speaks at a good pace.

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